Julien Alfred has responded calmly to her recent defeat at the Prefontaine Classic, making it clear that her focus remains firmly on winning medals rather than chasing individual race victories. The reigning Olympic 100m champion was narrowly beaten by American sprinter Melissa Jefferson-Wooden, who clocked 10.75 seconds on home soil, with Alfred finishing a close second in 10.77 seconds.
Despite the result, Alfred is unshaken and insists the loss has helped her recalibrate her mindset. Speaking after an impressive 200m performance at the Diamond League Meeting in London where she ran a blistering 21.71 seconds she highlighted how the experience has sharpened her determination ahead of the World Championships.
Alfred, who also won Olympic silver in the 200m, explained that the defeat served as a valuable lesson and turning point in her season. Rather than dwelling on the loss, she is using it as motivation to refine her focus and trust her training process.
“I’m not the world leader right now, but I care more about medals,” she said. “So it’s not really on my back as much as on somebody else’s. I look at it in that way.”
The sprinter added that she feels confident heading into the global showpiece in Tokyo, crediting her growing strength, trust in her coach, and belief in herself for the renewed sense of assurance.
Alfred began her 2025 campaign with a dominant run during the indoor season, where she remained unbeaten. She made her outdoor debut in the 300m at the Miramar Invitational before extending her winning form in four successive meets: the Tom Jones Memorial, Boris Hanžeković Memorial, and Diamond League competitions in Oslo and Stockholm.
The lone blemish on her record came at the Prefontaine Classic, but she quickly returned to the top of the podium with wins in Monaco and London.
As she prepares for the World Championships, Alfred appears laser-focused on the bigger picture. Her recent results indicate a sprinter not only in peak form but also in full control of her competitive mindset ready to trade times for titles.
